How to Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring

So you're about to pop the question and you're now busy looking for that perfect ring for her. It would be ideal to get something that matches her personality and of course, something that gives value for your money. Some prefer to buy smaller ones but with a very good quality while others prefer buying bigger ones without giving much emphasis on quality.

When looking for a diamond ring, remember the 4 Cs of diamonds namely: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.

Cut refers to the proportions, symmetry and finish of a polished diamond. To get from the raw diamond to the cut gemstone requires the skilled hand of a master cutter. The better the cut proportions, the better the diamond handles light to create sparkle. Cut is the single most important factor affecting a diamond's sparkle, brilliance and visual fire. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.

Color is another important factor in determining its value. Ideally, a diamond should have no colour at all, like a drop of spring water. Increasing degrees of body colour are measured on a scale ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply coloured (Z). For white/colourless diamonds, the top colours: D (the Best Blue white), E (exceptional white), F (Very very white),G (rare white), H (white) and I (slightly offwhite) are all considered "white" when set in a ring and are hard to tell apart to the untrained eye: e.g. an E is hard to tell from a D, an F is hard to tell from an E, though the difference between say a D and an H may be more discernible when the diamonds are compared loose.

Clarity is determined by the internal characteristics called "inclusions" and surface features called "blemishes". Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, however, during crystallization other minerals nearby, or even other bits of carbon forming more quickly may have become trapped within the cooling mass. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless which is I.F meaning internally flawless) to heavily included (I-3).

Carat is the weight of the diamond. It is the unit of weight for all gemstones. One carat is subdivided into 100 "points". Therefore a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. So, the bigger the size of the diamond, the bigger the carat.

So when getting that special ring, it is important to check these qualities in the diamond so you will have an idea of its value. Consider your budget too and don't overspend on it as there are other things you need to put your money on, like wedding expenses.. Something beautiful to the naked eye and as long as it has good sparkle and color without obvious inclusions should be just wonderful.

Now, after knowing the 4 Cs, you better know her ring size. There are different ways of getting her ring size, you may ask her sister or her bestfriend about it but just ask them to keep it a secret first since you want to surprise her. Then start planning for that special moment - when you pop the question!